Orlando Police Chief John Mina says the department needs nearly $370,000 for new bullet-proof vests for its officers. Greg Fox (@GregFoxWESH) has the latest.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina says the department needs nearly $370,000 for new bullet-proof vests for its officers. Greg Fox (@GregFoxWESH) has the latest.

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Updated: 4:59 PM EDT May 4, 2015

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WEBVTT LATE BREAKING. THIS IS "WESH 2 NEWS FIRST AT 4" IN HIGH DEFINITION. ORLANDO POLICE WANT TO SPEND TAX DOLLARS TO REPLACE OLD BULLET-PROOF VESTS. THOSE VESTS CAN BE LIFE SAVERS BUT THEY COST NEARLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. WESH 2'S GREG FOX SHOWS HOW THE CITY HOPES TO PAY FOR THEM AND HOW THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY CAN DO A BETTER JOB PROTECTING OFFICERS. TAKE A LOOK AT THE BULLET HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THIS CAR. THIS IS WHERE SEVERAL CARS AND THAT HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET WERE HIT BY BULLETS ALONG CHANTELLE ROAD. AN OFFICER WAS ALSO SHOT AT BY SUSPECTS. FORTUNATELY HE WAS WEARING A BULLET-PROOF VEST. HAD ANY OF THOSE ROUNDS HIT HIM, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED. THAT IS A SHOT FROM A 44 MAGNUM INTO THE CHEST PLATE OF A POINT BLANK ENTERPRISE'S BULLET-PROOF VEST. THE SAME VEST WORN BY ORLANDO POLICE OFFICERS. BALLISTIC SHIELD HERE. OFFICER WANDO FORD IS SHOWING US THE LATEST VERSIONS. ONE DESIGNED FOR MEN AND THE OTHER FOR FEMALE OFFICERS. IN ORLANDO THE CITY'S POLICY MAKES WEARING THE VEST MANDATORY. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE BEST TECHNOLOGY. OFFICER SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE FOR US. CHIEF JOHN MENO WAS AT CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION TO TRY TO SECURE A GRANT TO COVER HALF THE COST OF REPLACING THE VESTS. 352 HAVE TO BE RETIRED BECAUSE OF WEAR AND TEAR AT A TOTAL COST OF NEARLY $370,000. FAR DIFFERENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST VEST IN 1978. THE NEWEST ARE LIGHTER, HAVE FABRIC THAT HELPS KEEP BODY TEMPERATURE COOLER AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AS OPD OFFICERS GET READY TO ADD BODY CAMERAS TO THE ROUGHLY 20 POUNDS OF GARY ON THEIR UNIFORMS. TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS CHANGING. IT'S GETTING BETTER. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR OFFICERS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OFFICER SAFETY. ANYTHING THAT CAN STOP MORE BULLETS AND BE LIGHTER AT THE SAME TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. MORE AND MORE CRIMINALS ARE USING HIGH POWERED ROUNDS AND THAT'S WHY THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND BULLET-PROOF VESTS IS IMPROVING

Orlando police need nearly $370K for new bullet-proof vests

Orlando Police Chief John Mina says the department needs nearly $370,000 for new bullet-proof vests for its officers. Greg Fox (@GregFoxWESH) has the latest.